Counting apparatus



Oct. 14, 1941. H. W, GILBERT 2,259,159

COUNTING APPARATUS Filed sept. 20, 1939 Patented Oct. 14, 1941 COUNTING APPARATUS Herman Walter Gilbert, Kew Gardens, N. Y., as-

signor to Cutting Room Appliances Corp., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application September 20, 1939, Serial No. 295,767

3 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a counting apparatus.

The invention proposes to so support and operate a counter that it is particularly adapted to count a number of pieces cut from a roll or bolt of yard goods. In the garment industry and other industries it is necessary to cut a plurality of pieces from yard goods and superimpose them upon each other to produce a lot,V upon which the various pattern pieces are subsequently placedto cut the goods in accordance With the pattern. However the operation of cutting the pieces and superimposing them upon each other is particularly tedious when done individually by hand. There are various types of machines and mechanisms capable of automatically spreading and folding layer upon layer of yard goods to obtain strip sections of desired widths and lengths superimposed upon each other, and these machines each include a counting mechanism for counting the layers which subsequently may be cut apart to produce the superimposed pieces desired. However cutting plants which cannot use spreading machines, and often on special jobs, the measuring off, cutting or tearing, and superimposing of pieces from yard goods is done manually. The counting apparatus in accordance with this invention is particularly intended to count the superimposed pieces in the later mentioned instances.

More specically the invention proposes to characterize the counting apparatus by the fact that it is provided with a vertical member flexibly supported to move slightly rearwards when pressed at any front point with a scissor, or

other cutting tool, or other implement or ones linger, or hand. Furthermore the invention makes use of a novel operating means connected with said vertical member to operate th'e counter to indicate the number of times the vertical member is pressed rearwards and so indirectly count the pieces of goods.

The invention proposes to construct the counting apparatus in such a way that it may be rested on a cutting table to the rear of the yard goods which is extended across the front portion of the table.

The table may be prOvided with usual markers so that the yard goods may be drawn across the markers and then the pieces cut manually with a scissor or other cutting implement or torn. It is proposed to so arrange the counting apparatus that upon conclusion of cutting or tearing the pieces off, the scissors or othercutting implement or finger may engage the vertical member by slightly extending the cutting or tearing act, to actuate the counter, and advance it one digit.

Still further the invention proposes to construct the vertical member suiciently high so that a large vquantity of cut pieces may be superimposed during the cutting operation, while the counting apparatusis being used.

Still further the invention proposes the construction of a device as mentioned which is simple and durable and which may be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, ref- 'erence will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are move particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a counting apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig; 2 is a vertical sectional line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig; 3 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional View taken on the line3-3 of Fig. l.

Fig, 4 is a transverse vertical sectional View takenl on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

vThe counting apparatus in accordance with this invention includes a body Il) having a fiat bottom for resting upon a cutting table or other similar body. The body l0 is of hollow construction and has a front opening Il surrounded by a flange portion Ia. The body I 0 is opened at the bottom, and along the bottom edges is provided with flange portions Ib. A plate I2 is attached across the flange portions Ib for closing vthe opening at the bottom of the body. At the top, the body I0 is formed with an area I0c having an opening I3 through which the numberson the face I4a of a counter I4 `are viewable. This counter I4 is of conventional construction, having a radial arm I5 which is oscillated forwards and rearwards for advancing the counter one digit, The counter I4 is mounted within the top corner of the body ID in such a way that the reading Ilia thereof is viewable through the window opening I3, and moreover so that the knob I4b by which the counter may be turned back to zero is accessible at the side of the body I0.

A vertical member I6 is mounted across the front opening of the body I0 and is flexibly supview taken on the ported to move slightly rearwards when pressed at any front point with a pair of scissors, or other cutting implement or ngers, or hand. The vertical member It is in the form of a ilat plate. Its front face is provided with a rubber pad I'I, or other pad, so as to cushion the blow which the member receives when engaged by the scissors, or other cutting tool.

The member I5 may be flexibly supported in various ways. The preferred way is illustrated, which includes a pair of lugs I8 mounted upon the rear face of the member I6 and engaged by a yoke which has its upper ends I9a outwardly directed and turnably supported in lugs 20 formed upon the material of the side wal-1s of the body I0'. The lugs I8 are arranged on substantially the vertical center of the plate I6. The yoke I9 has a central horizontal portion I9b which extends across the back of the plate I6 with its end portions freely engaging through the lugs I3. This central portion ISU then continues into side arm portions ISC which extend upward-s and continue into the outwardly disposed end portion ISa previously mentioned. The yoke I9 serves to support the plate I6 in a manner so that when the plate isY pressed at the top, the top portion may pivot inwards, and when pressed at the bottom, the bottom portion may pivot inwards, and when pressed at the center, the entire yoke I9 may pivot inwards.

The plate I6 is provided with several laterally projecting lug portions Ia engaging the flangeportions IIl'a so as to prevent any portion of the vertical member moving outwards, while any other portion is moved inwards. More specically the lug portions Ia include topv lug portions which engagethe top of the opening I I', and bottom lug portions which engage the bottom ends of the opening II.

clearly viewable in Fig. l. It is pointed out that body I0 so as to produce an audible signal which may be heard when the arm I5 is moved sufciently rearwards to register a digit on the counter I4.

The operation of the device is as follows:

The cutting apparatus is placed on a cutting table, or other object. The goods to be out or torn into pieces, is drawn across the table and measured off by customary markers mounted on the table. With a scissor or other implement, or the fingers, each piece of yard goods is cut or torn by starting from the front edge and cutting or tearing towards the rear edge. The cutting apparatus is so placed that when the pieces are cut or torn, the scissors or ones linger or hand strikes the vertical member I 5 moving it inwards.

The various pieces of yard goods which have been cut and stacked, one upon the other, deter- These lug portions are the lug portions I'a. do not prevent any of the parts of the vertical member from moving. in.-

tion of the vertical member I6. Y This means in- Y cludes a pair of converging links 2l and 22 pivotally connected together by a pintle 23 at ad` jacent rear ends, which ends are located directly behind the central portion ISD of the yoke I9. The links 2I and 22 extend towards each other. The forward ends of the converging links ZI and 22 are pivotally connected with lugs 2`I and 22' respectively, mountedv upon the inner face of the vertical member I6. The pintle 23 also supports a connector link 24 which extends rearwards, see Fig. 2.

The rear end of the connector link 24 is pivotally connected with an intermediate portion of a vertically extending lever 25. This lever is pivotally supported by a pintle 25 upon a bracket 21 located midway between the link 24 and' the bottom of the body I0. The upper end of the lever 25 is pivotally connected with an arm 28 which has its other end pivotally connected with the arm I5 of the counter I4. Resilient means, in the form of a spring 29, is connected between the lower end of the lever 25 and a stationary screw 3B mounted on the body I0, acting to normally and resiliently urge the vertical member I6 forwards, so that the lugs lea engage the flange V portion Ita.

A clapper 3| is mounted upon the arm I5 and is adapted to strike a bell 32 mounted on the mines the elevation at which the uppermost piece is cut. The Vertical member I 6 is of suitable height so that a high stack may be cut, Vand counted with the cutting apparatus. Heretofore when these pieces were cut manually it was customary for the cutter to try to keep count of the same, which very often proved a physical impossibility, since the cutters mind would be detractedl by other persons, or some other detraction would occur.

As a result after a stack of pieces were cut, the

cutter would now take to manually counting the l pieces of the stack, requiring several recounts since the cut pieces have a tendency of stricking together, and thereis always the possibility of the count being incorrect.

Each time the vertical member IS is engaged by a cutting scissor, or other implement, or nger or hand, the vertical member IS will move rearwards. This rearward motion may comprise merely the top portion moving rearwards, or the bottom portion moving rearwards, while other portions pivot about certain of the lugs If-.ia as a pivot. Or if the vertical member is engaged at the center the entire vertical member may move rearwards. Irrespective ofthe manner in which the vertical member I5 moves rearwards, the

motion will be transmitted by the link 2t to the lever 25 so as to move the upper portion of the lever rearwards. This motion is transmitted by the arm 2S to the arm I5 of the counter Il which registers another digit. When the scissor, iinger, or other implement is drawn off from the vertical member IB, the spring 29 will automatically return the vertical member to its front position and will similarly return the arm I5 of the counter I4 back to its initial' position so that the counter is now ready to count another digit.

The audible signal comprises the clapper 3l,

and bell 32, and is used for the purpose of insur-V ing the proper operation of the counter. When the operator does not force the vertical member I6 suciently rearwards to have the counter register, the clapper 3l will not engage the bell 32.

It should be recognized that the main feature of the counting apparatus resides in the fact that it counts the cut or torn pieces which are being cut and stacked from yard goods.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the class described, a hollow body for resting on a cutting table or other object and having a front opening, a counter mounted on said body so as to be viewable and having an operating radial arm movable to and iro for each digit advance, a vertical member extending across said front opening, means for resiliently holding said vertical member in a forward position, a yoke pivotally mounted within said body and pivotally connected with a central part of said vertical member, converging links pivotally mounted at their front ends on said vertical member on opposite sides of said central part and having their rear ends pivotally connected together, a connector link pivotally mounted on the rear ends of said converging links, a lever pivotally connected intermediate of its ends with said connector links, an arm connecting one end portion of said lever with said operating radial arm, and means for pivotally holding the other end portion of said lever.

2. In a device of the class described, a hollow body for resting on a cutting table or other object and having a front opening, a counter mounted on said body so as to be viewable and having an operating radial arm movable to and fro for each digit advance, a vertical member extending across said front opening, means for resiliently holding said vertical member in a forward position, a yoke pivotally mounted within said body and pivotally connected with a central part of said vertical member, converging links pivotally mounted at their front ends on said vertical member on opposite sides of said central part and having their rear ends pivotally connected together, a

connector link pivotally mounted on the rear ends of said converging links, a lever pivotally connected intermediate of its ends with said connector links, an arm connecting one end portion of said lever with said operating radial arm, and means for pivotally holding the other end portion of said lever, comprising a bracket stationarily mounted within said body, and a pintle pin connecting said bracket and said lever.

3. In a device of the class described, a hollow body for resting on a cutting table or other object and having a front opening, a counter mounted on said body so as to be viewable and having an operating radial arm movable to and fro for each digit advance, a vertical member extending across said iront opening, means for resiliently holding said vertical member in a forward position, a yoke pivotally mounted Within said body and pivotally connected with a central part of said vertical member, converging links pivotally mounted at their front ends on said vertical member on opposite sides of said central part and having their rear ends pivotally connected together, a connector link pivotally mounted on the rear ends of said converging links, a lever pivotally connected intermediate of its ends With said connector links, an arm connecting one end portion of said lever with said operating radial arm, and means for pivotally holding the other end portion of said lever, said means for resiliently holding said vertical member comprises a spring connected with said lever and urging it to move said links forwards, and means for limiting the vertical member frorn moving further forwards than certain points with relation to said body.

HERMAN WALTER GILBERT. 

